A positive impact on the serum lipid profile and cytokines after the consumption of a plant sterol-enriched beverage with a milk fat globule membrane: a clinical study

• Published in: Food & function Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 529 - 5219
• Main Authors: Alvarez-Sala, Andrea, Blanco-Morales, Virginia, Cilla, Antonio, Silvestre, Ramona Ángeles, Hernández-Álvarez, Elena, Granado-Lorencio, Fernando, Barberá, Reyes, Garcia-Llatas, Guadalupe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Royal Society of Chemistry 17.10.2018
• Subjects: Anticholesteremic Agents - analysis; Anticholesteremic Agents - metabolism; beta-sitosterol; Beverages; Beverages - analysis; Bioavailability; Biomarkers; blood lipids; blood serum; campesterol; Cardiovascular diseases; cholesteremic effect; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Clinical trials; Consumption; Crossovers; Cytokines; Cytokines - genetics; Cytokines - metabolism; Dietary intake; Double-Blind Method; Female; Fruits; Glycolipids - metabolism; Glycoproteins - metabolism; Health risks; High density lipoprotein; high density lipoprotein cholesterol; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia - blood; Hypercholesterolemia - diet therapy; IL-1β; Inflammation; Interleukin 10; Interleukin 12; Interleukin 6; Interleukin 8; interleukin-1beta; lipid composition; Lipids; Lipids - blood; Low density lipoprotein; low density lipoprotein cholesterol; Middle Aged; Milk; milk fat; Milk fat globule membranes; Phytosterols - metabolism; Post-menopause; postmenopause; Postmenopause - metabolism; Precursors; Pretreatment; Reduction; risk reduction; Sterols; stigmasterol; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Tumor necrosis factor-α; women
• ISSN: 2042-6496; 2042-650X; 2042-650X
• DOI: 10.1039/c8fo00353j

The hypocholesterolemic effect and the modification of serum biomarkers of a dietary plant sterol (PS) intake, cholesterol precursors and cytokines after the consumption of milk-based fruit beverages with a milk fat globule membrane were evaluated by a randomized, double-blind, crossover, multiple dose bioavailability study. Postmenopausal women ( n = 38) consumed daily 250 mL of a beverage with or without 2 g of PS added during 6 weeks in each of the study periods. With the intake of the PS-added beverage, significant decreases (mg dL −1 ) in serum total cholesterol (pre-treatment: 220.0 ± 27.8 vs. post-treatment: 212.9 ± 25.8; p < 0.05) and LDL-cholesterol (129.4 ± 28.5 vs. 121.7 ± 24.4; p < 0.05) were detected. The cholesterol precursor lathosterol (11.2%), markers of the dietary PS intake (campesterol 43.1% and β-sitosterol 32.5%), and anti-inflammatory IL-10 cytokine (22.5%) increased significantly, with a concomitant significant reduction in pro-inflammatory IL-1β (6.7%). No variations in HDL-cholesterol, other sterols (desmosterol and stigmasterol) or cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p70 and TNF-α) were detected. These results indicated that this kind of PS-enriched milk-based fruit beverage is suitable during the period of clinical intervention, and its consumption may be an adequate way to improve PS functionality since a significant reduction in cholesterol levels has been observed. Therefore, the intake of this beverage could contribute to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease also obtaining a beneficial effect on the serum inflammatory status in postmenopausal women. Positive impact on serum lipids and cytokines after functional beverage's intake by postmenopausal women.